How We Research
Updated: 2026-10-07 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a braided replacement cable with a real in-line mic and remote that also works with a PS4 or Xbox One controller, choose NewFantasia 3.5mm; if you need to add a volume knob to headphones that don't have one — and you want a longer reach for movies — choose PChero 3.5mm.
These are two very different products that shoppers keep comparing because both are short 3.5mm cables with volume control. One is a replacement cord for Skullcandy-style headphones; the other is an extension cable. If your goal is a comfortable movie-watching setup, knowing which one solves your actual problem is the whole ballgame.
• NewFantasia 3.5mm — biggest strength: a full in-line remote (volume up/down, play/pause, track skip, call answer/end) plus a microphone, on a tangle-free nylon-braided 4.3 ft cable.
• NewFantasia 3.5mm — biggest trade-off: it's a replacement cable, not an extender, so it only helps if your headphones have a detachable 3.5mm cable and you actually want the mic/remote on the cord.
• PChero 3.5mm — biggest strength: a passive in-line volume wheel that adds volume adjustment to headphones or earphones that have none, with no power required.
• PChero 3.5mm — biggest trade-off: it's male-to-female, so it extends an existing cable rather than replacing one, and it has no microphone.
• Who each pick is for: NewFantasia for Skullcandy Hesh/Crusher/Grind owners who lost or wore out their cable; PChero for anyone whose current headphones or earbuds lack a volume control.
The NewFantasia cable is a straight-up replacement cord. It's 3.5mm male to 3.5mm male, 4.3 ft long, 3mm in diameter, and built around an oxygen-free copper core wrapped in a tangle-free nylon braid. The jacket material matters more than people think: braided nylon resists the fraying and kinking that kills cheap rubber cords, and a 4.3 ft length is a sensible middle ground for desk use, handheld gaming, and lounging on the couch with a tablet.
The real selling point is the in-line module. It handles volume up and down, play/pause, track changes, and call answer/end, and there's a microphone built in. The mic and remote are listed as compatible with a long list of Samsung Galaxy phones (S10 down through S3, plus Note models), OnePlus, and Google Android phones — and the microphone also works with PS4 and Xbox One controllers. That controller compatibility is the detail that makes this genuinely interesting for gaming: plug it into a DualShock 4 or Xbox One pad and you get chat audio and volume control without a separate headset adapter.
Compatibility is the catch. This is designed for headphones with a detachable 3.5mm cable — specifically the Skullcandy family: Hesh, Hesh 2, Hesh 3, Hesh ANC, Hesh Evo, Venue, Crusher, Crusher Evo, Crusher ANC, and Grind Wireless. If your headphones have a fixed, non-detachable cable, this product does nothing for you. And note what's in the box: one cable. The headphones are not included.
So who should buy it? Someone who owns one of those Skullcandy models and has a cable that's crackling, cutting out, or lost. Someone who wants a mic on their cord for phone calls or controller chat. Someone who likes the feel of braided cable and wants a spare. Who should skip it? Anyone with permanently attached headphone cables, anyone who needs an extension rather than a replacement, and anyone who wants a volume knob for headphones that don't have one — that's not what this cable does.
The PChero cable solves a completely different problem. It's a 3.3 ft male-to-female 3.5mm stereo extension with an in-line volume control wheel. The male end plugs into your phone, tablet, laptop, PC, MP3 player, Discman, car stereo, or any other device with a 3.5mm aux port; the female end accepts your headphones, earphones, or speaker.
The volume wheel is the point. If your existing headphones have no way to adjust volume — think basic wired earbuds, or headphones whose inline control died — this adds that control without any power source. It's a passive attenuator, so no battery, no charging, no pairing. PChero states there's no attenuation of sound quality, which is the claim any passive volume cable lives or dies by.
Build details are sensible for the money-as-specs-go: bare copper conductors, gold-plated plugs, polished metal connectors, and strain-relief rings at both ends. The jacket is PVC with a tangle-free design, so it coils up without knotting in a bag. It's black, round, and 3-pin.
Compatibility is broad and deliberately generic: iOS and Android devices, PCs, laptops, tablets, MP3/MP4 players, Walkman-style players, speakers, Hi-Fi systems, car stereos, radios, portable Bluetooth speakers, and wireless audio receivers — anything with a standard 3.5mm aux jack. Because it's male-to-female, it also physically extends your reach by roughly three feet, which is a real benefit if your current cable is too short to reach the couch.
Who should buy it? Anyone whose headphones lack volume control and who wants a quick, unpowered fix. Anyone who needs to bridge a gap between a device and a speaker or headset. Anyone building a simple movie-watching setup where they want the volume knob within arm's reach instead of fumbling for the phone. Who should skip it? Anyone expecting a microphone — there isn't one. And anyone who needs a full replacement cable for detachable-cable headphones, because this extends rather than replaces.
• Best for adding volume control to headphones that have none → PChero 3.5mm. That's literally its core feature.
• Best for replacing a worn or lost headphone cable → NewFantasia 3.5mm. Designed as a direct replacement for detachable-cable Skullcandy models.
• Best for game chat and controller use → NewFantasia 3.5mm. The mic is listed as compatible with PS4 and Xbox One controllers.
• Best for phone calls → NewFantasia 3.5mm. Answer/end call plus a built-in mic; PChero has neither.
• Best for extending reach to a TV, monitor, or car stereo → PChero 3.5mm. Male-to-female design adds length and works with any 3.5mm aux port.
• Best for movies with a hands-on volume wheel → PChero 3.5mm. You can nudge the volume mid-scene without touching the source device.
• Best cable feel and durability → NewFantasia 3.5mm. Nylon-braided, tangle-free jacket with an OFC core.
• Best for wide, generic device compatibility → PChero 3.5mm. It doesn't care what brand your device is, as long as it has a 3.5mm jack.
If I were buying for myself, I'd pick based on the problem, not the brand. For a movie setup — especially one where I'm plugging into a TV, laptop, or tablet and want the volume wheel right there in my hand — I'd take the PChero 3.5mm. It adds control to whatever headphones I already own and works with nearly anything that has a 3.5mm jack. But if I owned Skullcandy Hesh, Crusher, or Grind headphones and needed a working cord with a mic for calls and controller chat, I'd take the NewFantasia 3.5mm without hesitation. Two different jobs, two different answers. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit — both are inexpensive enough that owning the right one for each use case isn't unreasonable.
Just a cable. The package contains one replacement cord — the headphones are not included. It's meant for headphones that already have a detachable 3.5mm cable, particularly Skullcandy Hesh, Crusher, Venue, and Grind models.
No. It's a stereo audio extension with an in-line volume wheel only. If you need a mic for calls or game chat, the NewFantasia cable is the one with the built-in microphone.
It works with anything that has a standard 3.5mm plug, and it needs no power. It's the right fix when your headphones or earbuds have no volume control of their own. Just remember it extends an existing cable rather than replacing it.
For movies, I'd lean PChero 3.5mm: the in-line volume wheel lets you adjust on the fly, and the male-to-female design gives you extra reach to a TV, laptop, or tablet. If your headphones have a detachable cable and you want a braided replacement with a mic, NewFantasia 3.5mm is the better pick instead.
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